05-22-2026, 03:25 PM -
Well, I guess I'll take a swing at this right now ---- although I reserve the right to change my mind during the pre-season.!!!
First things first. I think LP has a decent chance to be closer to right than most of us think. My "heart" agrees with her 11-6 (10-7) "homer' forecast, but .... **sigh** I THINK it may end up a little differently. Because we ended up in the playoffs last year, even though we shouldn't be proud of HOW that happened, our schedule THIS year reflects the Division win. It's a MUCH tougher schedule. Yes, we don't travel as far as other teams, but we travel just as often, so I am not considering that as much of a difference maker.
As a side issue and a potential indicator of how we do overall, I'm giving due diligence to the NFC South. These games are always tough and I usually consider them to be a "toss-up". THIS year however, the team that is most concerning to me is (gasp) The NO Saints. I mentioned Tyler Shough last year as a potential problem and Nawlins proved that out, beating us twice. We hung 60 pts on the Falcons against 27, so we won two there, and we split with TB, losing late in the season when it counted. So we ended up 3-3 although in a non-standard way. This year N.O. is going to be our toughest Division test again. I could see us splitting with the Bucs and the Falcons - OR - we could sweep both of them. So, as GOOD as 5-1 in the Division or as BAD as 2-4. (I don't think there is any way we beat the Saints twice..).
Crystal Ball Gazing --
1) BEARS - Home L - Bears traded away DJ Moore and their Defensive backfield took a beating - But they added Dillon Thieneman
2) FALCONS - Away W
3) BROWNS - Away W - QB questions abound. Who knows.??
4) LIONS - Home L (Primetime) - Defensive questions, but a terrific Offense. Cade Mays and Penei Sewell anchor the O-line.
The first Quarter of the season should not be a reliable indicator of how well the Panthers fare this year. The biggest 'unknown' is how well Brad Idzik will run the Offense. I suspect he will get better (and more reliable) as the season advances. Either the Bears or the Lions HOME games could be Wins..... And we could lose to the Browns. So best potential is 4-0, and the worst is 1-3.
5) BYE WEEK
6) EAGLES - Away L - Great Defense but the rest is 'up and down'. This one could be closer than we imagine.
7) BUCS - Home W
8) PACKERS - Away (Primetime) W -.Good Offense but there are potential problem areas. Weather.?? Parsons is "unknown", O-line is ???
9) BRONCOS - Home L - Terrific Defense. Solid O-line. Bo Nix ankle = unknown.
So at the halfway point, I have us at 4-4. Could be as good as 6-2 or as bad as 2-6. The Packers Primetime game could easily be a loss. That would make us 3-5 - a very real possibility.
10) SAINTS - Away L - This one we probably lose...
11) RAVENS - Home W - We can beat the Ravens. No Harbaugh. Home crowd. No Linderbaum. No Isaiah Likely... But if we're not ready....SMH
12) BUCS - Away (Primetime) L - I hate to forecast a sweep, so I won't... But we should win this one.
13) VIKINGS - Home W - Questions. No GM. Kyler Murray - Really.?? Control Justin Jefferson, Jauan Jennings. Tough but winnable.
So, three quarters of the way, I have us at 6-6. It's NOT easy, and it could be a lot worse. We should win the Bucs game and we could easily lose to either or both of the Ravens and Vikings. Could be 7-5 or 4-8.
14) SAINTS - Home W
15) BENGALS - Home W - Lost Trey Hendrickson. Control Ja'Marr Chase. Definitely winnable.
16) STEELERS - Away L - We're terrible against the Steelers. Plus it's in Pittsburgh. Still, their QB situation is ???
17) SEAHAWKS - Home L - Just like last year. Another disappointment.
18) FALCONS - Home W
So overall, this puts us at 9-8. Could be 11-6 or could be 6-11. Nothing is definite here, but several of these games are almost definite. We lose to the Eagles and the Steelers and the Broncos. We win against the Browns, the Ravens, and the Bengals (and most of the NFC South).
The ONLY THING sure about this is the lack of surety of it all..!!
First things first. I think LP has a decent chance to be closer to right than most of us think. My "heart" agrees with her 11-6 (10-7) "homer' forecast, but .... **sigh** I THINK it may end up a little differently. Because we ended up in the playoffs last year, even though we shouldn't be proud of HOW that happened, our schedule THIS year reflects the Division win. It's a MUCH tougher schedule. Yes, we don't travel as far as other teams, but we travel just as often, so I am not considering that as much of a difference maker.
As a side issue and a potential indicator of how we do overall, I'm giving due diligence to the NFC South. These games are always tough and I usually consider them to be a "toss-up". THIS year however, the team that is most concerning to me is (gasp) The NO Saints. I mentioned Tyler Shough last year as a potential problem and Nawlins proved that out, beating us twice. We hung 60 pts on the Falcons against 27, so we won two there, and we split with TB, losing late in the season when it counted. So we ended up 3-3 although in a non-standard way. This year N.O. is going to be our toughest Division test again. I could see us splitting with the Bucs and the Falcons - OR - we could sweep both of them. So, as GOOD as 5-1 in the Division or as BAD as 2-4. (I don't think there is any way we beat the Saints twice..).
Crystal Ball Gazing --
1) BEARS - Home L - Bears traded away DJ Moore and their Defensive backfield took a beating - But they added Dillon Thieneman
2) FALCONS - Away W
3) BROWNS - Away W - QB questions abound. Who knows.??
4) LIONS - Home L (Primetime) - Defensive questions, but a terrific Offense. Cade Mays and Penei Sewell anchor the O-line.
The first Quarter of the season should not be a reliable indicator of how well the Panthers fare this year. The biggest 'unknown' is how well Brad Idzik will run the Offense. I suspect he will get better (and more reliable) as the season advances. Either the Bears or the Lions HOME games could be Wins..... And we could lose to the Browns. So best potential is 4-0, and the worst is 1-3.
5) BYE WEEK
6) EAGLES - Away L - Great Defense but the rest is 'up and down'. This one could be closer than we imagine.
7) BUCS - Home W
8) PACKERS - Away (Primetime) W -.Good Offense but there are potential problem areas. Weather.?? Parsons is "unknown", O-line is ???
9) BRONCOS - Home L - Terrific Defense. Solid O-line. Bo Nix ankle = unknown.
So at the halfway point, I have us at 4-4. Could be as good as 6-2 or as bad as 2-6. The Packers Primetime game could easily be a loss. That would make us 3-5 - a very real possibility.
10) SAINTS - Away L - This one we probably lose...
11) RAVENS - Home W - We can beat the Ravens. No Harbaugh. Home crowd. No Linderbaum. No Isaiah Likely... But if we're not ready....SMH
12) BUCS - Away (Primetime) L - I hate to forecast a sweep, so I won't... But we should win this one.
13) VIKINGS - Home W - Questions. No GM. Kyler Murray - Really.?? Control Justin Jefferson, Jauan Jennings. Tough but winnable.
So, three quarters of the way, I have us at 6-6. It's NOT easy, and it could be a lot worse. We should win the Bucs game and we could easily lose to either or both of the Ravens and Vikings. Could be 7-5 or 4-8.
14) SAINTS - Home W
15) BENGALS - Home W - Lost Trey Hendrickson. Control Ja'Marr Chase. Definitely winnable.
16) STEELERS - Away L - We're terrible against the Steelers. Plus it's in Pittsburgh. Still, their QB situation is ???
17) SEAHAWKS - Home L - Just like last year. Another disappointment.
18) FALCONS - Home W
So overall, this puts us at 9-8. Could be 11-6 or could be 6-11. Nothing is definite here, but several of these games are almost definite. We lose to the Eagles and the Steelers and the Broncos. We win against the Browns, the Ravens, and the Bengals (and most of the NFC South).
The ONLY THING sure about this is the lack of surety of it all..!!
"A Reasoned Response From A Reasonable Mind"